Section 74.870 - [Effective 11/18/2024] Wireless video assist devicesTelevision broadcast auxiliary licensees and motion picture and television producers, as defined in § 74.801 may operate wireless video assist devices on a non-interference basis on VHF and UHF television channels to assist with production activities.
(a) The use of wireless video assist devices must comply with all provisions of this subpart, except as indicated in paragraphs (b) through (i) of this section.(b) Wireless video assist devices may only be used for scheduled productions. They may not be used to produce live events and may not be used for electronic news gathering purposes.(c) Wireless video assist devices may operate with a bandwidth not to exceed 6 MHz on frequencies in the bands 180-210 MHz (TV channels 8-12) and 470-608 MHz (TV channels 14-36) subject to the following restrictions:(1) The bandwidth may only occupy a single TV channel.(2) Operation is prohibited within the 608-614 MHz (TV channel 37) band.(3) Operation is prohibited within 129 km of a television broadcasting station, including Class A television stations, low power television stations and translator stations.(4) For the area and frequency combinations listed in the table below, operation is prohibited within the distances indicated from the listed geographic coordinates. Note to the following table: All coordinates are referenced to the North American Datum of 1983.
| Area | North latitude | West longitude | Excluded frequencies
(MHz) | Excluded channels |
| 200 km | 128 km | 52 km |
| Boston, MA | 42°21'24.4" | 71°03'23.2" | 470-476 | 14 | | |
| | | 476-482 | | 15 | |
| | | 482-488 | 16 | | |
| | | 488-494 | | 17 | |
| Chicago, IL | 41°52'28.1" | 87°38'22.2" | 470-476 | 14 | | |
| | | 476-482 | 15 | | |
| | | 482-488 | | 16 | |
| Cleveland, OH1 | 41°29'51.2" | 81°41'49.5" | 470-476 | 14 | | |
| | | 476-482 | | 15 | |
| | | 482-488 | 16 | | |
| | | 488-494 | | 17 | |
| Dallas/Fort Worth, TX | 32°47'09.5" | 96°47'38.0" | 476-482 | | 15 | |
| | | 482-488 | 16 | | |
| | | 488-494 | | 17 | |
| Detroit, MI1 | 42°19'48.1" | 83°02'56.7" | 470-476 | | 14 | |
| | | 476-482 | 15 | | |
| | | 482-488 | | 16 | |
| | | 488-494 | 17 | | |
| Gulf of Mexico | | | 476-494 | | | 15, 16, 17 |
| Hawaii | | | 488-494 | | | 17 |
| Houston, TX | 29°45'26.8" | 95°21'37.8" | 482-488 | | 16 | |
| | | 488-494 | 17 | | |
| | | 494-500 | | 18 | |
| Los Angeles, CA | 34°03'15.0" | 118°14'31.3" | 470-476 | 14 | | |
| | | 476-482 | | 15 | |
| | | 482-488 | 16 | | |
| | | 488-494 | | 17 | |
| | | 500-506 | | 19 | |
| | | 506-512 | 20 | | |
| | | 512-518 | | 21 | |
| Miami, Fl | 25°46'38.4" | 80°11'31.2" | 470-476 | 14 | | |
| | | 476-482 | | 15 | |
| New York/NE New Jersey | 40°45' | 73°59'37.5" | 470-476 | 14 | | |
| | | 476-482 | 15 | | |
| | | 482-488 | 16 | | |
| | | 488-494 | | 17 | |
| | | 494-500 | | 18 | |
| | | 500-506 | 19 | | |
| | | 506-512 | | 20 | |
| Philadelphia, PA | 39°56'58.4" | 75°09'19.6" | 494-500 | | 18 | |
| | | 500-506 | 19 | | |
| | | 506-512 | 20 | | |
| | | 512-518 | | 21 | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 40°26'19.2" | 79°59'59.2" | 470-476 | 14 | | |
| | | 476-482 | | 15 | |
| | | 488-494 | | 17 | |
| | | 494-500 | 18 | | |
| | | 500-506 | | 19 | |
| San Francisco/Oakland, CA | 37°46'38.7" | 122°24'43.9" | 476-482 | | 15 | |
| | | 482-488 | 16 | | |
| | | 488-494 | 17 | | |
| | | 494-500 | | 18 | |
| Washington D.C./MD/VA | 38°53'51.4" | 77°00'31.9" | 482-488 | | 16 | |
| | | 488-494 | 17 | | |
| | | 494-500 | 18 | | |
| | | 500-506 | | 19 | |
1 The distance separation requirements are not applicable in these cities until further order from the Commission.
(d) Wireless video assist devices are limited to a maximum of 250 milliwatts ERP and must limit power to that necessary to reliably receive a signal at a distance of 300 meters. Wireless video assist devices must comply with the emission limitations of § 74.637 .(e) The antenna of a wireless video assist device must be attached to the transmitter either permanently, or by means of a unique connector designed to allow replacement of authorized antennas but prevent the use of unauthorized antennas. When transmitting, the antenna must not be more that 10 meters above ground level.(f)(1) A license for a wireless video assist device will authorize the license holder to use all frequencies available for wireless video assist devices, subject to the limitations specified in this section.(2) Licensees may operate as many wireless video assist devices as necessary, subject to the notification procedures of this section.(g)Notification procedure. Prior to the commencement of transmitting, licensees must notify the local broadcasting coordinator of their intent to transmit. If there is no local coordinator in the intended area of operation, licensees must notify all adjacent channel TV stations within 161 km (100 mi) of the proposed operating area.(1) Notification must be made at least 10 working days prior to the date of intended transmission.(2) Notifications must include:(i) Frequency or frequencies.(v) Effective radiated power.(vi) Intended dates of operation.(vii) Licensee contact information.(3)(i) Failure of a local coordinator to respond to a notification request prior to the intended dates of operation indicated on the request will be considered as having the approval of the coordinator. In this case, licensees must in addition notify all co-channel and adjacent channel TV stations within 161 km (100 mi) of the proposed operating area. This notification is for information purposes only and will not enable TV stations to prevent a WAVD from operating, but is intended to help identify the source of interference if any is experienced after a WAVD begins operation.(ii) If there is no local coordinator in the intended area of operation, failure of any adjacent channel TV station to respond to a notification request prior to the intended dates of operation indicated on the request will be considered as having the approval of the TV station.(4) Licensees must operate in a manner consistent with the response of the local coordinator, or, if there is no local coordinator in the intended area of operation, the responses of the adjacent channel TV stations. Disagreements may be appealed to the Commission. However, in those instances, the licensee will bear the burden of proof and proceeding to overturn the recommendation of the local coordinator or the co-channel or adjacent channel TV station.(h) Licenses for wireless video assist devices may not be transferred or assigned.(i)Operations in 600 MHz band assigned to wireless licensees under part 27 of this chapter. A wireless video assist device that operates on frequencies in the 600 MHz band assigned to wireless licensees under part 27of this chapter must cease operations on those frequencies no later than the end of the post-auction transition period as defined in § 27.4 of this chapter. During the post-auction transition period, wireless video assist devices will operate on a secondary basis to licensees of part 27 of this chapter, i.e., they must not cause to and must accept harmful interference from these licensees. 68 FR 12772 , Mar. 17, 2003, as amended at 68 FR 69331 , Dec. 12, 2003; 79 FR 48545 , Aug. 15, 2014